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Sunday, February 03, 2013

Missile destroyer "Changchun" commissioned

In addition to new AEW&C birds, the PLAN is getting a new 052C LUYANG-II Class Destroyer as announced by CCTV. Of course, DDG150 is the second ship to bear the name "Changchun", the first is DD 103, "ex-Reshitelny" an old Soviet Navy destroyer that was transferred to the PLAN in 1950s. The DD103 Changchun saw action in 7 naval engagements, mostly with the Republic of China Navy in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It was decommissioned in 1990.

One of China’s new generation of guided missile destroyers the "Changchun" has been commissioned to the People’s Liberation Army Navy.

The naming and flag presenting ceremony of the "Changchun" was held at a naval port in Zhoushan, in East China’s Zhejiang Province. Officers of the East China Sea Fleet presented the naming certificate and PLA flag to the commander of the missile destroyer. 155 meters long and 17 meters wide, the "Changchun" has a displacement of 5,700 tons.

It represents China’s first type of missile destroyer, equipped with active phased array radar and medium-to-long-range ship-to-air missiles. It has long-range warning, detecting and fleet air defense capabilities and can be used independently or with other war craft to attack surface ships and submarines.